Fender Wheel Arch Design

FENDER

Fenders are the part of an automobile or any other vehicle body that frames a wheel well (the fender underside). Its primary purpose is to prevent sand, mud, rocks, liquids, and other road spray from being thrown into the air by the rotating tire.

FENDER WHEEL ARCH

Wheel arch is a curved part of the fender positioned right above the wheel. These wheel arch plays a vital role by protecting both the pedestrian and car cabin from the particles thrown by the tyre.

Different countries have different wheel arch regulations to follow. So, it is necessary to consider the suitable regulation for which country the car is made.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF REGULATIONS FOR FENDER WHEEL ARCH DESIGN

JAPAN REGULATION

• The clearance ‘L’ for tire, hub, cap and fender is to be measured within the area K and clearance chart is created to validate.
• The area K is determined by the lines which is drawn 30° forward and 50° rearwards from the central vertical axis of the wheel.
• The value of L should be greater than 5mm in all positions.
• Wheel guard requirement: The value of ‘a’ should be more than 5mm at the lines 30°forward and 50° rearward from the central vertical axis of the wheel.

EUROPEAN REGULATION

• The clearance ‘L’ is measured at five different points and clearance chart is created to validate.
• The five lines created are,
  • Line A; Central vertical axis of the wheel
  • Line B; 30° forward from the central vertical axis of the wheel
  • Line C; 50° rearward from the central vertical axis of the wheel
  • Line D; 150mm height from the horizontal axis of the wheel
  • Line E; Bisector line of Line C and Line D
• The value of L should be greater than 10mm at all the five positions.
• Wheel guard requirement: The value of ‘a’ should be more than 5mm at the lines 30°forward and 50° rearward from the central vertical axis of the wheel.

US REGULATION

• The clearance ‘L’ is to be checked in all positions from -100° to 100° from the central vertical axis to the wheel and clearance chart is created to validate.
• The value of ‘L’ should be greater than 5mm in all points.
• Wheel guard requirement: The value of ‘a’ should be more than 5mm at the lines 30°forward and 50° rearward from the central vertical axis of the wheel.

CALCULATION OF WHEEL ARCH USING EUROEAN REGULATION

For calculating the clearance a sketch is created to obtain 5 points as per the European regulation.

Obtaining clearance ‘L’ value at the designated points

• At Line A

The clearance at the Line A, L = 9.95 mm

• At Line B

The clearance at the Line B, L = 10 mm

• At Line C

The clearance at the Line C, L = -0.09 mm

• At Line D

The clearance at the Line D, L = -2.87 mm

• At Line E

The clearance at the Line E, L = -5.99 mm

Obtaining clearance ‘a’ value for wheel guard requirement

• At Line B

The clearance at the line B, a = 44.82 mm

• At Line C

The clearance at the line C, a = 38.32 mm

CLEARANCE CHART

From the above chart, it is clearly known that the given fender does not pass the European Regulation as the minimum clearance for L does not meet the requirement.